The Gujarat Technological University (GTU) expects to add 5,714 new seats in professional degree and diploma courses with the start of the new academic year.
According to GTU officials, the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) has approved an increase in seats in 31 institutes in Gujarat to increase intake and approved three new institutes, while one engineering institute awaits final approval.
Interestingly, of the total increase in the seats requests, 5,070 new seats have been allocated to popular courses like Computer, IT, Civil engineering, Electrical, Mechanical, Artificial Intelligence, Robotics & Automation in degree engineering while Computer, IT, ICT, Civil, EC, Mechanical (CAD/CAM), Robotics & Automation in diploma courses.
Keeping in mind the popularity of the new age courses, the Gujarat government has also increased or added new courses in its engineering colleges.
Officials said that while 12 degree engineering institutes will see an increase of 2,070 seats in various courses, 3,000 seats in diploma courses, 134 in pharmacy, 210 in MBA and 60 in MCA will be added in the admission process by the Admission Committee for Professional Courses (ACPC).
Against this, the three new professional degree courses institutes include one MBA institute with an intake of 60 seats, one BDesign institute with an intake of 150 and Bachelor of Interior Design institute with an intake of 30 seats have been approved. If the new degree engineering institute gets the nod, 240 seats more will be added to the total increase of 5,714 seats.
Officials, however, also said that while permission to start new institutes and increase seats have been sought, four progressive institute closures, including one engineering, MBA, MCA and diploma, each have been granted. This will reduce intake of 540 seats when these institutes close down after all existing students pass out.
While closures of the institutes offering professional courses have been a routine every year in wake of diminishing interest in the degree engineering courses, the move comes as a relief to students seeking admission in the nearby areas.